Westport gearing up for restaurant week Sept. 30 through Oct. 5

By ROBIN KAMINSKIHour Staff Writer

Published 7:30 pm, Friday, September 21, 2012

WESTPORT -- Eat up, Westport.

Starting Sept. 30 and running through Oct. 5, the Westport-Weston Chamber of Commerce is hosting restaurant week as a chance to showcase its local restaurants and give the community a chance to experience new eateries and re-visit some of their favorites.

"Restaurant week is a great way to partner with restaurants and promote them," said Lisa Parrelli Gray, executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce. "It's also a great way to give back to the community."

Gray said the week long celebration of food will once again partner with Homes with Hope and their "Have a Meal, Give a Meal" food drive at all of the participating restaurants. Those who visit the restaurants are asked to donate canned goods, which will be given to the Gillespie Center to replenish its food pantry.

"It's important to do this in March and September (during both restaurant weeks) because not many people consider the homeless during those months," Gray said. "We do have people in need and this is not just an inner city problem. If people can afford a lovely, prix fixe lunch or dinner, I hope they can bring a couple cans of food for those who can't do the same."

In addition to the food drive, Gray said the Westport Arts Center will be sponsoring a "Dinner Doodle" contest by inviting restaurant goers to doodle on napkins provided by the restaurants. The artistic creations will be entered into a contest and featured at the Dinner Doodle party on Oct. 17. The Westport Playhouse will also be providing discounted tickets ti their last performance, "A Raisin in the Sun."